Peoria Station

Since the local media won't provide updates... If I read this correctly, almost all of Viridis Chemical LLC's assets were sold to BioUrja Capital LLC with the transaction planned to take place by July 1, 2026. This news item is dated May 8 , and appears to be the most recent update in Viridis' bankruptcy.  So it appears that BioUrja Renewables LLC, on whose property Viridis leased to build an acetic acid plant in 2025, has taken possession. Whether they intend to dismantle it and sell the equipment (including the Praj dehydration unit still at the Port of Houston) or finish construction and operate it is unknown at this time. As of today (September 14, 2026), the plant remains intact.     If the plant had started operations as intended by late-2025 or early-2026, it is likely that a rail siding from the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad would have been installed for loading tank cars.  - David P. Jordan

I came across this Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local waiting by BioUrja Renewables LLC's plant for the bridge to come down, which happened shortly. Train had four corn syrup empties (probably from PMP Fermentation Products, though those usually have ADMX markings), two other empty tank cars (possibly buffer cars), a beverage alcohol load, two denatured alcohol placarded tank cars which appear empty (second one has a home shop decal), a corn syrup tank car that appears to be loaded, and two truck chassis loads from Komatsu.   CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 1" job diverges toward Bridge Junction in Peoria, Illinois early afternoon Friday, July 31, 2026. IMRR 43 has 12 cars, including two Komatsu truck chassis loads for the East Peoria Yard. A good substitute for missing Union Pacific's MPECL Friday afternoon. I have been working a lot of overtime lately, so I have less time for these encounters. I assume BNSF is still trying to run its G...

I saw this one working BioUrja Renewables LLC's Alcohol Tracks in mid-afternoon, and hung around the area waiting for it to head across the river. I did not wait long, but the paused at South Street and then again at Leland. The bridge was up again and the crew simply moved a short distance, clearing Leland. I went to the other side and waited. River traffic cleared and the train crossed the river.    All eleven cars were empty, which is unusual. Usually, most tank cars on the return run from the West Yard to East Peoria are loads. I believe they spotted a few empties at BioUrja, however.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local, probably "Lead 2," approaches Bridge Junction at Peoria, Illinois then pauses for a brief delay due to boat traffic. Shortly, it crosses the river. After switching BioUrja Renewables LLC's Alcohol Tracks, IMRR 43 had eleven empties for East Peoria.   - David P. Jordan

Friday afternoon was busy, but the days are still too short to take advantage of anything other than chance encounters. The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard was pretty full, so BNSF left M-GALPEI on the New Long Main in Peoria and ran engine lite to East Peoria for M-PEIGAL (which, as usual, had to be built from two tracks). A TP&W local ran around the same time as well. The Keokuk Junction Railway local had to wait for an BNSF Kincaid coal empty before moving from Iowa Junction to East Peoria. A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad job was working Liberty Steel & Wire and the Kickapoo Yard area. I did capture one train movement however...   BioUrja Renewables LLC purchased ADM's Peoria plant and property on November 1, 2021 but today was the first time I heard the crew call it "BioUrja 932."  CAPTION: One of BioUrja Renewables LLC's, ADMX 932, pulls 15 corn loads from the South Yard in Peoria, Illinois toward the distillery on old Rock Isl...

I figured that Friday would be busy, and I was correct.    On Wednesday, a BNSF coal train was sitting on the mainline near Darst Street. The TZPR bridge was in the raised position so it seems the whole railroad was shut down for both Wednesday (Christmas Eve) and Thursday (Christmas Day). A second BNSF coal train was reported at Galesburg. I noticed on Christmas Day that Union Pacific's MPECL was parked on the Low Line by Adams Street Yard, and it probably arrived early, like Wednesday evening.    I missed some action due to work (BNSF's M-GALPEI) and darkness (BNSF's M-PEIGAL, and the departing KJRY local). I did not bother with a short (four cars) Norfolk Southern D49 leaving East Peoria because I was waiting for the TP&W train described below.    This one was waiting on the east leg of the wye, a bit unusual for a TP&W train. Apparently, this job must have pulled rather than backed out of the South Yard and connection and then onto the TZ...

I happened across this one in East Peoria while heading back home. When I saw the headlight some distance out of the TP&W yard onto the Peoria Sub, I exited I-74 onto E. Washington Street and checked the dwarf signal at W. Washington Street. Sure enough, it was yellow so I waited.  When I left, the train was stopped on the Nickel Plate, presumably waiting for the bridge to come down. Street lamps are excellent at this spot!   This evening's run had 25 Incobrasa and 15 TP&W cars. The former were probably loaded at Inco Grain Ltd. in Goodland, Indiana. I can only guess the latter's origin but I believe Wheatfield Grain at Crescent City and Ludlow Cooperative Grain Elevator at La Hogue can load 15 cars at a time. The Ruff Brothers elevators at Gridley probably can do so combined.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway East Peoria Switcher rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad at West Washington Street in East Peoria, Illinois early evening Sat...

I keep hoping to catch the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's old Kickapoo Job (Industry 2?) when it handles twin-bay covered hoppers assigned to Ozinga Cement Co. service. Although it appears slag or flyash is the product handled at the new Peoria facility, I have not confirmed whether this is inbound or outbound. Facilities for both appeared to have been installed. Seeing these cars on this train would help confirm.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Industry Job rolls across BioUrja Renewables LLC's Riverside Track moments before crossing the Illinois River enroute from Kickapoo Yard in Peoria, Illinois to East Peoria mid-afternoon Wednesday, December 17, 2025. HESR 2107 has three cars.   - David P. Jordan

After work, I decided to check East Peoria for any activity, i. e. Norfolk Southern train D49. No sign of Thoroughbreds, but I did see this TP&W transfer ready to pull out of the TZPR at W. Washington Street.    I left my camera on "auto" mode so video setting defaults to 1080p vs. 4k, so details are not as good, especially in late-afternoon sun. I believe the 12 TP&W covered hoppers on the head end were empty, and probably pulled from BioUrja Renewables LLC's South Yard (which crews and dispatchers still call "ADM South Yard") across the river.   The rest of the train include five tank cars, four with grain alcohol placards and loaded. A boxcar loaded with bagged salt, eight nitrogen tank cars and a methyl chloride tank car represent receipt from BNSF.   The CAIX covered hopper was empty. Next were five empty RISX covered hoppers, likely from CPKC-IMRR, last containing zinc oxide. The CKIX covered hopper was also empty. It is possible that all se...

Driving eastbound on Interstate 74 just before the bridge, I just happened to see the SW-10 and a few flat cars, so I exited onto Riverfront Drive and on the Bob Michel Bridge back across the river. Grant Street had too much snow, so I opted to wait at Alexander Avenue while the crew spotted two or three empty flat cars into Komatsu and pulled two truck chassis loads.   After pulling across Alexander Avenue, the crew left the train on the main and ladder track in the North Limit Yard, used the pocket to runaround the train and then pulled back south across Alexander Avenue. My hands were hurting (despite wearing gloves), so I decided to warm them up instead of sticking around to shoot switching operations at PMP Fermentation Products.    This will be the train that switches Viridis Chemical between BioUrja Renewables LLC and the West Yard, if and when rail facilities are built.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad local pulls northbound across Alexander ...

I returned home Monday evening but still had another day off, so I took advantage of the situation for a little exploring.    I noticed five covered hoppers of various markings (CITX, three SCGX, one AMFX) at the old South Yard. These must be assigned to distillers dried grain service out of BioUrja Renewables LLC.    I also checked the new Ozinga Cement Co. facility at the lower end of the old Peoria Barge Terminal. A covered hopper was spotted under a spout, which appears to enable loading of bulk materials from barge to rail. I'd guess there is an undertrack pit on site to enable rail-to-barge transfer as well. Perhaps this facility is being installed to support the new slag cement mill being built on the Indiana Harbor Belt RR at East Chicago, Indiana? The Tazewell & Peoria RR is the serving carrier, and it will be exciting to find out what line haul carriers will be handling this traffic.    I checked Adams Street Yard where I found a short M...

It seems that the Kolbe Local (EP1) ran through to East Peoria this afternoon. Can't confirm 100%. Normally, it makes a Collier turn and swaps traffic with EP2. Earlier, I noticed three tank cars on the south end of the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard, at the Creve Coeur end, actually.    That this local left 17 cars from Mapleton industries at the TZPR yard instead of taking them first to the TP&W yard demonstrates efficient operation when two shortlines are under common control.  CAPTION: A Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway local, probably EP1 out of Kolbe (Mapleton), Illinois, bangs the BioUrja Renewables LLC Riverside Track in Peoria, moments before entering the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Illinois River Bridge late-afternoon Thursday, October 16, 2025. TPW 2056 has 19 cars. After setting out 17 at the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, and grabbing three more, the five-car train rolls by N. Main Street in East Peoria. - David P. Jor...

I took a half-day off work and decided to check on Union Pacific's MPECL. It left Adams Street Yard around 1230. Due early poor afternoon lightning at the old Molitor Junction (MP 80) and W. Farmington Road, I opted for video at Pottstown.  CAPTION: Union Pacific train MPECL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Clinton IA) has entered the double track as it rolls by Pottstown, Illinois early afternoon Friday, October 10, 2025. UP 5875 and UP 7225 have 25 cars.   Volume might be up with the fall harvest, but it has been years since I've seen any carrier deliver this many carloads of corn to the present BioUrja Renewables LLC/former ADM distillery in Peoria.   When rail-to-barge grain export operations commenced in 1981, the Chicago & North Western and Toledo, Peoria & Western were granted access to ADM's Riverside Track (ex-Rock Island Belt Line) via Iowa Junction. Both carriers seemed to deliver loads, pull empties or both on most days.   TP&W grain volume de...

When I crossed the river on I-74 this afternoon, I glanced north (as I usually do) to find a Tazewell & Peoria Railroad switcher working at PMP Fermentation Products. So I turned right onto NE Adams and made my way to the RiverPlex parking lot.  The crew was just finishing up their work, having just shoved corn syrup loads (and maybe a sodium hydroxide solution tank car) into PMP's spur. After coupling six corn syrup empties to three other cars (a tank car, probably used as a buffer and two Komatsu chassis loads), they left for the West Yard, dropped the train and then ran engine lite across the river. TZPR 1351 paused at Bridge Junction for maintenance-of-way to clear.  CAPTION: A Tazewell & Peoria Railroad Industry Job leaves PMP Fermentation Products for the West Yard in Peoria, Illinois late-afternoon Friday, October 3, 2025. TZPR 1351 dropped its nine cars at the West Yard and crossed the river engine lite. After TZPR 1351 cleared, ADMX 932 dragged 15 TP&...

When I left work this afternoon, I already knew Norfolk Southern's D49 local had arrived and departed, so I took I-474 to Peoria and went up SW Adams to find BNSF's M-GALPEI, the third turn this week, just getting permission to enter Tazewell & Peoria Railroad property at Darst Street.    Sometime in late-April this year, M-GALPEI/M-PEIGAL changed from a Monday/Thursday pattern to Monday/Friday. There are still two or three days in between runs. No real difference. But I wondered if this new routine might signal a future increase in frequency, i. e., three instead of two weekly cycles. Although BNSF has occasionally operated a third weekly cycle in the past, I see no reason to do so on a regular basis unless there is a significant increase in traffic, or a company-wide change in operations strategy.    I can't confirm whether this week's Wednesday run was the beginning of increased service or a fluke. I did not see the train itself, but BNSF 9100 and BNSF 67...

No sign of Norfolk Southern's D49 local on any late-afternoon this week. It must be turning early. I assume that it has come up to East Peoria at least once this week. I did, however, catch BNSF 9100 and BNSF 6728 at the north end of the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard, having just dropped an inbound train (M-GALPEI).   I could only glance at the yard as I drove the Cedar Street Extension, but the consist appeared to have been on A-41. Shortly, they received permission to cross W. Washington Street and then run down the Nickel Plate. I did not see whether they tied up on the Creve Coeur Team Track or coupled to M-PEIGAL and went west. When I checked again around 6:00pm, lighting was too blinding to really see much.    We know M-GALPEI/M-PEIGAL already turned here on Monday, and the next regular cycle is usually Friday (unless late, like last week when Friday's train ran just after sunrise on Saturday). Perhaps they had sufficient traffic to run on We...

I had just parked at the downtown library when I heard the horn, so I got back in my car and investigated. I was surprised to see IMRR 2108 pulled an empty steel coil car and two tank cars. All three had apparently been left at the Limit Yard by a recent Iowa Interstate train.    The TZPR crew had already switched BioUrja's Alcohol Tracks, so it was only a matter of adding the three cars to 17 in the West Yard before crossing the river into East Peoria. But first, they had to wait for a BNSF coal train to cross the river and head toward Crescent Yard.    I've never seen them do it, but I understand ballast cars are loaded on the main between South and Cass streets in Peoria (the last scene in the video). Years ago, probably in 2002, I watched a P&PU switcher with three ballast cars wait at the ADM South Yard while ballast was being loaded. Apparently, the present location was determined sometime after the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad began leasing P&PU...

This morning, I learned that the Iowa Interstate was running an SIPE and PESI today, with the former already enroute. So I waited until it was closer to my area and was able to intercept after it had gone through Chillicothe. Short train, but with a little variety, including empty dry bulk fertilizer cars for TZPR (or TP&W) and a scrap metal load that is presumably consigned to Liberty Steel & Wire Co. CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad Ltd. manifest SIPE (Silvis IL to Peoria IL) is shown late-morning to early-afternoon Saturday, May 24, 2025. Scenes are at Mossville and San Koty on the Peoria Sub, then at the North Limit Yard, Alexander Street and South Street on the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Uptown Division. IAIS 150 and IAIS 151 have 33 cars.   After getting back into Peoria, radio chatter indicated that BNSF's M-PEIGAL was building a train in the East Peoria Yard, and that it and TZPR's Lead 2 had to look out for the Iowa Interstate train. Sure enough...

I heard the dispatcher give it permission to head north on the Peoria Subdivision, so when it took awhile to catch up to it, I figured it had to be short.    It was.    Kind of a neat one though. Behind the ES44AC were two empty covered hoppers and five loaded tank cars, all placarded as UN 3065, or "alcoholic beverage." I'll dub this one the "Vodka Special." Don't know if the five cars came from BioUrja in Peoria or Alto Pekin LLC or Alto ICP in Pekin.   I'm curious about their destination. Typically, they are consigned to a distillery that is resuming operations after a maintenance shutdown or to a liquor blending and packaging facility. Although the cars are likely to be handled all the way to Silvis, I suspect they will moving back east on manifest CRBI (Cedar Rapids IA to Blue Island IL) to a Chicago connection.  CAPTION: Iowa Interstate Railroad manifest PESI (Peoria IL to Silvis IL) rolls along the Peoria Subdivision through Mossville, Ro...

When I drove by the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's East Peoria Yard after work this afternoon, I noticed BNSF power at the south end. I was to late to see M-GALPEI's arrival, but knew I had a chance to see M-PEIGAL flip back west after leaving the downtown library.   The Komatsu chassis load and empty BNSF flat car were pulled by TZPR Industry 2 on Friday. The non-placarded tank car right behind them might well contain distillers corn oil from BioUrja.  CAPTION: BNSF Railway train M-PEIGAL (Manifest, Peoria IL to Galesburg IL) rolls along the Tazewell & Peoria Railroad and onto home rails at S. Darst Street in Peoria, Illinois early evening Monday, May 12, 2025. A short time later, the train rolls toward W. Farmington Road. BNSF 5893 and BNSF 6740 have 21 cars.  - David P. Jordan

Friday was my birthday so I took a vacation day and spent the day looking for action that I would not normally see.    The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's Industry 2 job soon became the focus of my attention, as evidenced by 32 minutes of footage! CAPTION: The Tazewell & Peoria Railroad's "Industry 2" Job works the Uptown Division between Bridge Junction and the North Limit Yard in Peoria, Illinois on May 9, 2025. TZPR 1352 left East Peoria with 18 cars - four empty flats for Komatsu America Corp. plant, six corn syrup loads, a sodium gluconate empty and sodium hydroxide solution load for PMP Fermentation Products, two empty alcohol and three possible distillers corn oil empties (or buffer cars) for BioUrja Renewables LLC. A tank car between the last two cars for PMP appears to have used as a buffer. Train pulled one chassis load and an empty BNSF flat car from Komatsu and five corn syrup empties from PMP. Last scene shows the train across the river after sw...